5TH CONSECUTIVE WIN FOR THE 1864'S IN TENSE FINISH AT STAMFORDHAM.

13th Jun 2022

SNCC 145-8 (40o) Mo Arabi 38, Jan Ozmen 48, George McConnell 10, Jack Patterson 10: Tom Common 1-10, Uzair Matthews 1-10, Craig Johnstone 3-30, Isaac Prentice 2-17.

Stamfordham 142 ao (34.2o) Jack Schofield 44, A McGrath 54, J Wooley 15: Eoghan McKeegan 2-21, Patrick Hatcher 6-32, Mo Arabi 1-14, George McConnell 0-18, George Gray 0-28, Richard Clifford 1-22.

SNCC won by 2 runs - 20 points, Stamfordham 7.

The 1864's won the toss & chose to bat, giving debuts to U15 Charlie O'Brien & U13 Eoghan McKeegan, welcoming back Richard Clifford & Jack Patterson. It was not an easy wicket to score quickly on so 145 was a good effort.

George McConnell (10) but an important 40 balls lasted. Belinda Wewalage (8) was lbw at 37-2, but Mo Arabi & Jan Ozmen battled on building a partnership of 55 for the third wicket before Mo (38, 46b, 3x4, 2x6) was caught, a very positive innings. Jack Patterson (10) hit two nice boundaries, 111-4 in the 30th.

Patrick (8) chipped to short third at 132-5 in the 36 th but Jan continued. Ahmer's aggression came to nought & Richard Clifford was unfortunate to be run out from the last ball of the 37 th over. In the 39 th Jan (48, 93b, 6x4) was caught, a vital bedrock innings but then, & crucially as it turned out, George Gray 3* & Charlie O'Brien 2* lasted two overs & ran well, Charlie's 2 coming from the penultimate delivery of the last 40 th over.

Stamfordham faced the right arm medium pace of Mo Arabi & Eoghan McKeegan. At 8 the dangerous Common (2) was caught by w/k Belinda off McKeegan. At 14 Wallace was caught by Patrick above his head at mid off again off McKeegan, a good spell by Eoghan , full & straight.

Opener Wooley (15) was bowled by Hatcher at 23. Then came a good partnership of 79 between home captain Schofield & McGrath, assisted by some unfortunate fielding lapses. However, at 102 Schofield (44) was unlucky to be adjudged lbw to Mo.

Deciding seam & experience was the answer for the next phase, Patrick turned to Richard Clifford but it was the captain who bowled Johnstone (4), 121-5 in the 30 th & then Matthews (4) in the 32nd, 131-6. Miraculously, in his last over the 34th, Patrick took a hat trick. The key wicket of McGrath (54, 61b, 6x4, 1x6) was well caught by Charlie at mid off running to his left & over his shoulder. 

Full & straight deliveries then bowled Adamson & Ramsey without addition. Cue unbounded joy ..... but work to do, only 4 to win for the home team & 5 overs still remaining. Richard Clifford bowled the 35th, a leg bye, 3 to win, saw number 11 Moore on strike. A back of a length delivery, played too soon, lobbed in the air, a retreating Richard jumping high to take the catch. 143 all out, a win by 2 runs......cue more unbounded joy !

A 'never say die' attitude epitomised this 5th consecutive win for the 64's led by a rather sore Captain, whose 6-32 & Eoghan's 2-21 backed up the batting efforts led by Mo & Jan supported principally by George & Jack.

116 points, 4th place in WTL Division 1. The 9th fixture is v Hexham Leazes, (5th on 115 points) at Greenside on Sat 18th June.

Many congratulations & thanks to Harriet McConnell whose IPad scoring effort enabled the match to be followed remotely, a true team effort. Onward mes amis!

Duncan.